1 [intransitive]to drop down from a higher level to a lower levelSeptember had come and the leaves were starting to fall.They were injured by falling rocks.+ adv./prep.Several of the books had fallen onto the floor.One of the kids fell into the river.The handle had fallen off the drawer.He fell 20 metres onto the rocks below.The rain was falling steadily.

stop standing

2 [intransitive]to suddenly stop standingShe slipped on the ice and fell.+ adv./prep.I fell over and cut my knee.The house looked as if it was about to fall down.see alsofallen

of hair/material

3 [intransitive]+ adv./prep.to hang downHer hair fell over her shoulders in a mass of curls.

5 [intransitive]to decrease in amount, number or strengthTheir profits have fallen by 30 per cent.Prices continued to fall on the stock market today.The temperature fell sharply in the night.falling birth ratesHer voice fell to a whisper.+ nounShare prices fell 30p.See related entries:Trends

6[intransitive]to be defeated or capturedThe coup failed but the government fell shortly afterwards.fall to somebodyTroy finally fell to the Greeks.See related entries:Conflict

die in battle

7[intransitive](literary)to die in battle; to be shota memorial to those who fell in the two world wars

become

8 [intransitive]to pass into a particular state; to begin to be something+ adj.He had fallen asleep on the sofa.The book fell open at a page of illustrations.The room had fallen silent.She fell ill soon after and did not recover.fall into somethingI had fallen into conversation with a man on the train.The house had fallen into disrepair.+ nounShe knew she must not fall prey to his charm.

10[intransitive]+ adv./prep.to happen or take placeMy birthday falls on a Monday this year.

11[intransitive]+ adv./prep.to move in a particular direction or come in a particular positionMy eye fell on (= I suddenly saw) a curious object.Which syllable does the stress fall on?A shadow fell across her face.

belong to group

12[intransitive]+ adv./prep.to belong to a particular class, group or area of responsibilityOut of over 400 staff there are just 7 that fall into this category.This case falls outside my jurisdiction.This falls under the heading of scientific research.

Language BankfallDescribing a decreaseCar crime in Oxford fell significantly last year.Car crime fell by about a quarter over a 12-month period.The number of stolen vehicles dropped from 1 013 to 780, a fall of 26 per cent.According to this data, 780 vehicles were stolen, 26% down on the previous year.There was an 11% drop in reported thefts from motor vehicles, from 1 971 to 1 737.These figures show that, as far as car crime is concerned, the main trend is downwards.Word OriginOld Englishfallan, feallan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutchvallen and Germanfallen; the noun is partly from the verb, partly from Old Norsefall